West Brom and Leeds United are locked on 51 points apiece at the top of the EFL Championship table. The sides will meet on New Year’s Day seeking to continue their great form.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United have hit a rocky patch of late in the division. Just five points from their last 12 possible have been taken and fears of falling out of the automatic promotion places for the second season running have been rife at Elland Road.
West Brom have also had a difficult time of late. The Baggies have also taken five points from their last 12 possible. While Leeds United defeated Birmingham City, 5-4, last weekend, West Brom lost 2-0 to Middlesbrough.
With Fulham charging hard in third place and just nine points back of the top two, West Brom and Leeds United both need to pick up points as the busy time of the fixture list eases up.
It's @LUFC next up on New Year's Day 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/2NHmQspvtz— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) December 30, 2019
It's @LUFC next up on New Year's Day 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/2NHmQspvtz
Leeds United have won two of the last three matches between the two clubs. Earlier this season, Leeds United took all three points at Elland Road with a 1-0 win courtesy of an own goal from West Brom’s Kyle Bartley.
Although Leeds United have won two of three EFL Championship matches versus West Brom, they lost on their last trip to the Hawthorns. Last season, West Brom smacked Leeds United 4-1 at home with all five goals coming in the second half of the match.
West Brom have taken 23 of 36 points at the Hawthorns this season, which is sixth best in the division. The Baggies have posted a +11-goal difference playing at home.
Leeds United’s away record is sterling with 26 points from 39 taken on the road. It is the division’s second-best total behind West Brom. Strangely, both EFL Championship teams have performed slightly better on the road than at home this season.
West Brom manager could have left-back Kieran Gibbs and left-sided midfielder Grady Diangana back for the match. The two have been excellent on the Baggies’ left flack this season and both have been big misses.
Leeds United leading goalscorer Patrick Bamford is overcoming a dead leg this week and is expected to start. Pablo Hernandez is recovering from a hamstring injury and will be out of the fixture. Jamie Shackleton is suffering a muscle injury that should keep him out until Leeds United’s next game.
These two sides are very evenly matched and with so much riding on the game, Wednesday’s match should end in a score draw. The two sides should combine for over 2.5 goals in an exciting draw in the EFL Championship.